The therapy featured a range of exotic creatures

ONE care home in Weston has been allowing its residents to get up close and personal with some exotic creatures as part of an unusual therapy treatment.

Acer House in Milton Road welcomed the Zoo Lab organisation on April 25 to provide animal therapy for residents suffering from dementia.

The unusual form of treatment saw residents handling animals that included snakes, frogs and reptiles.

Acer House’s recreational and leisure co-ordinator, Patricia Eyre, said: “It is widely considered that animal therapy sessions improve physical, psychological and social wellbeing in older people.

“The visit allowed residents of all abilities to interact with various animals that we introduced them to. “This stimulating experience can help promote verbal communication between residents and carers and can sometimes rekindle memories of times past so dovetails brilliantly with our reminiscence programme for residents living with dementia.”